Law pushing towns to share more services clears N.J. Senate committee

"The bottom line is that the taxpayers of this state need a break, and shared services is one way to give it to them," Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), a sponsor of the bill, said.
Star-Ledger file photo

TRENTON — Legislation that would clamp down on towns, pushing them to share more services or lose their state aid, cleared the Senate budget committee today.

The measure (S2), which heads to the full Senate, has wide bipartisan backing and support from Gov. Chris Christie.

If the measure becomes law, a state commission would determine which towns can save money by consolidating services like police and fire departments. Wherever that commission finds an opportunity to cut costs, the issue would be put to a referendum.

Towns that do not make changes voluntarily or by referendum would lose their state aid.

"The bottom line is that the taxpayers of this state need a break, and shared services is one way to give it to them," Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), a sponsor of the bill, said.

The state League of Municipalities opposes the bill because residents would be forced to vote under duress. Few would reject consolidation when the other option is losing state funds, the group said.